Liverpool vs Burnley - Predictions

Liverpool are aiming to bounce back from a disappointing 3-1 defeat to title rivals Arsenal when they host Burnley in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.

The Reds saw their lead at the top of the table cut to just two points last weekend after defensive errors proved costly at the Emirates Stadium, while current champions Manchester City still have a game in hand that would see them leapfrog Liverpool if won.

Any more slip-ups will be pounced upon by Liverpool's competitors at the summit and claiming all three points against 19th-placed Burnley on Saturday is essential for Jurgen Klopp's side.

The Reds won the reverse fixture against the Premier League strugglers 2-0 at Turf Moor, goals from Darwin Nunez and a returning Diogo Jota securing victory on Boxing Day despite some questionable refereeing.

With Liverpool still unbeaten at Anfield in all competitions this term, here is how our writers see the clash with the Clarets playing out.

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Will Castle: After last week’s abomination of a performance at Arsenal, facing a relegation-threatened Burnley side offers the perfect opportunity for the Reds to get back on track.

It’s absolutely imperative that Liverpool don’t let one bad result snowball into a potentially catastrophic mid-season ‘blip’ – and given the circumstances surrounding Klopp’s departure, I don’t think the boys will let that happen.

We’re missing a couple of key names, Thiago of course included, but I still think this squad has more than enough quality to comfortably get past a Burnley side who have won three in 23 games.

Famous last words.

Liverpool 3-0 Burnley

Andy Headspeath: In theory this is about as kind a fixture you could hope for following a defeat.

Burnley are second only to Sheffield United when it comes to goals conceded and have lost seven out of 11 away from home this season.

But with Manchester City looking more and more inevitable with each passing week, the pressure is starting to build and even these sort of games start to look trepidatious.

Mo Salah's still missing and Dominik Szoboszlai's creativity and dynamism will be missed, but even so, Liverpool should have the nous to be able to break down Burnley's defences here. You'd hope.

Liverpool 2-0 Burnley

Ewan Ross-Murray: Liverpool have sometimes stumbled when facing the Premier League's struggling sides in past seasons, but those issues have been less prevalent this campaign.

The Reds remain unbeaten at Anfield and have generally breezed past the lesser sides in the division on Merseyside.

Burnley are already seven points off safety and their surprisingly offensive approach for a team languishing in the relegation zone should help Liverpool break them down.

However, they may cause the Reds a few issues on the counter-attack, especially with Ibrahima Konate absent through suspension and the Reds still smarting from their torrid defensive display last Sunday.

Still, Liverpool shouldn't have much difficulty dispatching of Vincent Kompany's side this weekend.

Liverpool 3-1 Burnley